A Dunedin Night 'n Day store has had its application for a
licence to sell alcohol rejected yet again, but the owner is
not ruling out another attempt. In its decision, following a
hearing in December, the Liquor Licensing Authority said the
business was not technically a grocery store, so it could not
allow it to sell alcohol.
It also agreed with opponents - police, the Dunedin City
Council and Public Health South, which opposed both
applications - who said having alcohol for sale in the
Octagon Night 'n Day store in Princes St would increase the
amount of crime at the store, and fuel alcohol abuse problems
in the nearby area. Store owners Murray and Katie Devereux
first applied for a licence when the shop opened in 2008, and
were rejected on similar grounds.
An appeal and a further, unsuccessful, hearing followed in
2010.
They have since increased the grocery section of the shop,
and Mr Devereux said yesterday he now understood clearly what
was needed to meet the threshold of being a grocery store.
He would not rule out meeting that requirement and
re-applying for a licence. In 2011, Mr Devereux was ordered
to remove images of alcohol products posted on his store's
windows after a complaint to the Commerce Commission that
they were misleading.
He was sent a letter asking him to cover or remove the images
until a licence was granted.
He said he would now post large signs informing customers the
shop did not stock alcohol.
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